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National Confederation of Labour

Spanish labor union
Also known as: CNT, Confederación Nacional del Trabajo

Quick Summary

The National Confederation of Labour (Confederación Nacional del Trabajo; CNT) was a Spanish labor union founded in 1910. It was heavily influenced by anarchism and became the dominant radical movement among factory workers in Barcelona and peasants in Andalusia.1

The CNT was characterized by its decentralized, antibureaucratic structure, with local "special unions" (sindicatos únicos) bringing together workers of all trades in a given area. Delegates were subject to immediate recall, and the organization operated with minimal paid staff.1

The CNT played a significant role in the Spanish Civil War, with anarchists largely responsible for defeating rebel generals in key cities. They took over factories and railways and established libertarian communes in rural areas. However, internal conflicts and the rise of communist influence weakened the CNT, and it became a phantom organization in exile after the war.1

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